Did Jesus rise from the dead?

The question, “Did Jesus rise from the dead?” stands at the very heart of Christian faith and theology. From the earliest days of the church, believers have claimed that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified and buried and then physically rose from the dead on the third day. This claim is not merely a peripheral doctrine; it is foundational, shaping Christian hope, worship, and worldview. In this article, we will explore where in the Gospels the resurrection is described, examine the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ—including the empty tomb and post-mortem appearances—consider the historical and scholarly perspectives, and reflect on the transformative power of the resurrection as the anchor of Christian hope.

The Gospel Accounts of the Resurrection
The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each provide distinct yet complementary accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection narratives are found in Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–8 (with some manuscripts including verses 9–20); Luke 24:1–53; and John 20:1—21:25. These passages describe the discovery of the empty tomb, angelic announcements, and multiple appearances of the risen Jesus to His followers.

As summarized by contemporary scholarship, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all provide accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, including the discovery of the empty tomb and His appearances to His disciples.¹ Each Gospel presents unique details, yet all agree on the central facts: Jesus was crucified and buried, and on the third day, His tomb was found empty. After that, He appeared alive to many witnesses.

Where in the Gospels Do We Learn That Jesus Rose from the Grave?
The resurrection is not a hidden or obscure teaching in the Gospels; it is explicitly described in each account. In Matthew 28, Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” come to the tomb and are greeted by an angel who declares, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6). Mark’s Gospel records the women’s astonishment at the empty tomb and the angelic message: “He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6). Luke’s narrative echoes this, with angels asking, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5–6). John’s Gospel provides a detailed account of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus (John 20:11–18) and Jesus’ subsequent appearances to the disciples (John 20:19–29).

The Empty Tomb: Physical Evidence for the Resurrection
One of the central pieces of evidence presented in the Gospels is the empty tomb. The discovery of Jesus’ tomb empty on the third day is reported in all four Gospels and is regarded by many scholars as historical bedrock. The empty tomb, described in the Gospels, serves as physical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. The narrative details are striking: the tomb was sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62–66), yet on the morning after the Sabbath, the stone was rolled away and the body was gone.

The significance of the empty tomb is heightened by the fact that women were the first to discover it. In the first-century Jewish context, women’s testimony was not considered legally reliable. Yet each of the Gospels includes the detail that women first discovered the empty tomb, suggesting the account’s authenticity.² If the Gospel writers were inventing the story, it is unlikely they would have chosen women as the primary witnesses. This point suggests the accounts are rooted in actual events rather than legend or fabrication.

What Is the Evidence That the Tomb Was Empty?
The empty tomb is attested by multiple independent sources within the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all record the discovery of the empty tomb by women (Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–18). The Gospel writers also note the reaction of the authorities. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard the tomb was empty, they bribed the guards to say the disciples stole the body while they slept (Matthew 28:11–15). This attempted cover-up inadvertently confirms that the tomb was indeed empty, and that Jesus’ body was missing.

Furthermore, the inability of Jesus’ opponents to produce His body, despite the presence of Roman guards at the tomb, further supports the resurrection claim.³ If the authorities had been able to produce Jesus’ body, the proclamation of His resurrection would have been immediately silenced. Instead, the message of the empty tomb spread rapidly in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was crucified and buried.

Post-Resurrection Appearances: Eyewitness Testimony
The Gospels and the letters of Paul record numerous appearances of the risen Jesus. These appearances are not fleeting visions or hallucinations but involve physical interactions: Jesus eats with His disciples (Luke 24:41–43), invites Thomas to touch His wounds (John 20:27), and walks and talks with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35).

Multiple witnesses reported seeing Jesus alive after His death, including His disciples, a group of over 500 people at one time, and even skeptics like James (Jesus’ brother) and Paul.⁴ Paul’s summary in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 is particularly significant, as it is an early Christian creed that predates the writing of the Gospels. Paul writes, “He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living. . . . Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born” (1 Corinthians 15:5–8).

How Do We Know That Jesus Appeared Alive to His Disciples After His Death?
The evidence for Jesus’ post-mortem appearances is multifaceted. First, the variety and number of witnesses are notable. The appearances are reported by men and women, individuals and groups, friends and former skeptics. The disciples were transformed from fearful and discouraged followers into bold proclaimers of the resurrection, willing to suffer and die for their testimony. This is powerful evidence for the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

Second, the appearances are described as physical and bodily, not merely spiritual or visionary. Jesus invites His followers to touch Him, He eats with them, and He converses with them over extended periods (Luke 24:36–43; John 21:1–14). The Gospel writers are careful to distinguish these appearances from ghostly visions, emphasizing the tangible reality of the risen Jesus.

Historical and Scholarly Perspectives: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The resurrection of Jesus is a unique claim in the history of religions. While some historians approach the resurrection with skepticism, the majority agree on several key facts: Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He was buried, His tomb was found empty, and His followers sincerely believed they had seen Him alive after His death.

As noted in the scholarly literature, this historical event is seen as transformative, anchoring Christian hope by demonstrating Jesus’ triumph over death and providing the foundation for the Christian faith.⁵ The resurrection is not merely a private spiritual experience but a public, historical claim with profound implications.

When considering the question, “Do historians think Jesus was really resurrected?” it is important to distinguish between what historians can affirm based on historical methods and what is accepted by faith. Most historians agree that the disciples had experiences they interpreted as appearances of the risen Jesus. The transformation of the disciples, the rapid growth of the early church, and the willingness of eyewitnesses to suffer and die for their testimony are difficult to explain apart from the reality of the resurrection.

What Is the Evidence of Jesus’ Resurrection?
The evidence for the resurrection can be summarized in several key points:

These lines of evidence, taken together, provide a strong cumulative case for the resurrection. In fact, the unanimous testimony of the New Testament is that Jesus did, in fact, rise from the dead. The resurrection is not presented as a metaphor or spiritual experience but as a real, historical event. Peter proclaims on the day of Pentecost, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it” (Acts 2:32). Paul writes, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

The resurrection is the linchpin of Christian faith. Without it, Christianity collapses. With it, the claims of Jesus Christ are vindicated, and His followers are given victory over sin and death and the hope of eternal life.

What Caused Jesus to Rise from the Dead?
The New Testament consistently attributes the resurrection of Jesus to the power of God. Jesus Himself predicted His resurrection, saying, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). Peter declares, “God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24). Paul affirms, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14).

The resurrection is thus not a natural event but a supernatural act of God, demonstrating His sovereignty over life and death. It is the ultimate confirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and the Messiah.

The Transformative Power of the Resurrection: Anchoring Christian Hope
The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a past event; it is the present foundation of Christian hope and the source of spiritual transformation. The early Christians proclaimed the resurrection as the decisive victory over sin, death, and the powers of evil. Paul writes, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Because Jesus lives, believers have the assurance of forgiveness, new life, and their own resurrection.

This historical event is transformative in the lives of believers, anchoring Christian hope by demonstrating Jesus’ triumph over death and providing the foundation for the Christian faith.⁶ The resurrection empowers Christians to live with courage, joy, and purpose, knowing that death is not the end and that God’s promises are trustworthy.

Conclusion
The question, “Did Jesus rise from the dead?” is answered by the combined testimony of the Gospels, the evidence of the empty tomb, the post-resurrection appearances, the transformation of the disciples, and the enduring impact of the resurrection on history and faith. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide detailed accounts of the resurrection, including the discovery of the empty tomb and Jesus’ appearances to His disciples. The evidence is compelling: the empty tomb, the inability of opponents to produce the body, the testimony of women, and the bold proclamation of the resurrection in Jerusalem all point to the reality of this event.⁷

Historians may debate the interpretation of the evidence, but the fact remains that something extraordinary happened in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago. The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian faith, offering hope, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life to all who believe. As Paul declares, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. . . . But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:17, 20).

For those seeking further study, the resurrection invites ongoing exploration—historically, theologically, and personally. Its message remains as relevant today as it was on that first Easter morning: “He is not here; he has risen” (Matthew 28:6).

Endnotes

¹ Edward Andrews, Christian Apologetics: Answering the Tough Questions (Cambridge, OH: Christian Publishing House, 2023), 320.
² Bobby Conway, Does God Exist? And 51 Other Compelling Questions About God and the Bible (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2016), 149.
³ David A. Fiensy, New Testament Introduction, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 1997), 120.
⁴ Johnny Ford, Introduction to Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective: An Independent-Study Textbook, Fourth Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2011), 49.
⁵ Christian Apologetics: Answering the Tough Questions, 324.
⁶ New Testament Introduction, The College Press NIV Commentary, 141.
⁷ Paul Young, Yes, We All Have a Sin Problem, ed. Martin Manser and Larry Stone, A Yes Book (Claverton Down, Bath: Creative 4 International, 2013), 23–24.